Park Hyung-sik perfectly took responsibility for the ending of 'Buried Hearts,' giving birth to yet another life-changing character.
The SBS drama 'Buried Hearts' (written by Lee Myung-hee, directed by Jin Chang-kyu, produced by Studio S, A2Z Entertainment, and Purmir Workshop) concluded with overwhelming support from the audience. At the center of 'Buried Hearts,' which raced through a whirlwind of power, desire, and revenge while maintaining high ratings until the last moment, was undoubtedly Park Hyung-sik's portrayal of 'Seo Dong-joo.' Park Hyung-sik built Seo Dong-joo solidly and weightily, clearly proving his depth and skill as an actor.
Seo Dong-joo, who was climbing the ladder of success as 'DaeSan Man,' began to be pushed to the brink after hacking the 2 trillion won political slush fund of the de facto powerful figure, Yeom Jang-seon (played by Heo Joon-ho). After narrowly escaping death multiple times and tragically losing Sister Agnes (played by Han Ji-hye), who he relied on like a biological sister, he was finally thrown into the catastrophe of witnessing the death of his biological father, Heo Il-do (played by Lee Hae-young), right before his eyes. At the center of this spectacular revenge drama, Park Hyung-sik effectively completed Seo Dong-joo's narrative with solid character immersion, upholding the core of 'Buried Hearts.'
In addition, with intense action, underwater swimming, oppressive water torture, and gunfire, Park Hyung-sik played out extreme situations without a stunt double, playing a crucial role in elevating the tension of 'Buried Hearts' to its peak. His passionate performance, intensely portraying Seo Dong-joo while engraving the face of a sharp avenger behind a kind image, was more than enough to earn the audience's enthusiastic praise. He has steadily built his filmography by crossing genres such as melodrama, historical drama, romantic comedy, courtroom drama, and zombie apocalypse, proving an even deeper and broader acting spectrum through this 'Buried Hearts.'
In the final episode aired yesterday (12th), Seo Dong-joo finally revealed all of Yeom Jang-seon's evil deeds and ugly truths, rising to the top again from the bottom of a collapsed life. Seo Dong-joo's method of isolating and instilling a sense of helplessness in Yeom Jang-seon without being driven by emotions was a truly exhilarating punishment that 'defeated without killing.' Consequently, Seo Dong-joo's epic revenge, in which he staked everything, came to a meaningful conclusion, and the heavy ending of 'Buried Hearts,' completed by Park Hyung-sik, left a profound resonance in viewers' homes.
Thus, Park Hyung-sik engraved another life-changing character by fully capturing Seo Dong-joo's vast emotional spectrum with a wide range of emotions and dense acting. It is exciting to see what new face Park Hyung-sik will embody next after proving his depth and weight through 'Buried Hearts.'
Meanwhile, Park Hyung-sik is expected to return with the fantasy action blockbuster series 'Twelve,' which depicts a massive battle against a group of evil trying to awaken sealed powers.
Next is the full transcript of actor Park Hyung-sik's question-and-answer session.
= The filming period was similar to other dramas, but it felt much longer. Although there were times when I felt emotionally overwhelmed while portraying the desperate life of Dong-joo, I was able to get through it thanks to the positive and passionate 'Buried Hearts' team. Now that I think about having to say goodbye to 'Buried Hearts' and Dong-joo, I feel a great sense of regret and attachment after receiving so much love and support.
= 촬영 기간은 타 드라마들과 비슷했지만 체감상 훨씬 길게 느껴졌던 작품이었습니다. 처절한 동주의 삶을 연기하며 감정적으로 벅찰 때가 있었어도 긍정적이고 열정 가득한 ‘보물섬’ 팀 덕분에 잘 이겨낼 수 있었습니다. 이제 ‘보물섬’과 동주를 떠나보내야 한다고 생각하니 많은 사랑과 응원을 받았던 만큼 아쉬움과 미련이 크게 남습니다.
Q. It seems there must have been a decisive reason why you were drawn to the drama 'Buried Hearts' and the character Seo Dong-joo. What captivated you when you first came across the script?
= 'Buried Hearts' is a work that meticulously portrays the psychological changes of various characters centered around events that occur as human desires and ambitions intertwine. I wanted to depict Dong-joo's struggle for survival filled with ambition and a thirst for revenge on the journey toward each person's 'buried hearts.' Dong-joo is a character completely different from those I have portrayed up to now, and I found his multi-dimensional aspect, constantly calculating and moving to survive, particularly intriguing. I had high expectations that I could show a deeper performance through Dong-joo, as he is a character with various colors.
Q. How did you build the character to portray Seo Dong-joo? Were there any particular aspects you focused on?
= Dong-joo is not a character who has followed an elite course like the DaeSan Group family, but he is someone who gained the chairman's trust with a powerful method called 'photo memory' and rose to the position of chief secretary. He devotes himself solely to DaeSan and earns the chairman's favor, but as a result, he constantly faces opposition from other members of the DaeSan family. Although he appears strong and confident on the surface, that very confidence leads him to repeatedly experience failures and betrayals. When I first encountered Dong-joo, the image of a young person fiercely living in a challenging reality came to my mind. I think I spent a lot of time contemplating how to vividly express Dong-joo's rough and arduous life as he strives to survive in DaeSan and climb to a higher place.
Q. If there are aspects you feel are similar between Park Hyung-sik and Seo Dong-joo.
= Dong-joo appears strong and unwavering on the surface, but he carries deep wounds within. I think there are similarities in that instead of lingering on those wounds, he silently walks his own path. I also have a tendency to take responsibility for decisions I make and persist without regret, so I empathized a lot with Dong-joo in that aspect.
Q. If there was anything particularly memorable during filming.
= The time I went to Namhae for ocean filming is the most memorable. I remember being captivated by the incredibly beautiful scenery right before my eyes. During filming, I was excited about how this stunning backdrop would be captured in the drama, and if given the opportunity later, it is definitely a place I would want to visit again.
Q. Seo Dong-joo had to digest extremely intense emotions such as being betrayed by a beloved partner, falling into the sea during a gunfire incident, enduring water torture, and ultimately losing his sister. It must have been challenging both physically and mentally.
= Perhaps because of that, I had a strange experience of losing weight no matter how much I ate. I wondered if someone in real life could be in a situation like Dong-joo's, and if so, whether they could hold on somehow. Towards the end of filming, Heo Joon-ho, a senior actor, said to me, “You look like you've been malnourished. Hyung-sik, after this project, go travel for a few months and rest well.” Haha.
Q. The ending where Seo Dong-joo beautifully completes his revenge, taking everything from Yeom Jang-seon, leaves a deep aftertaste. Was this conclusion in the direction you expected, and how did you feel when performing Seo Dong-joo's last scene?
= I felt a light emotion in that I could let go of Dong-joo well. What had happened to Dong-joo until now flashed by like a panorama. The ending scene of Dong-joo on the yacht was, in fact, also the last filming day of 'Buried Hearts.' With the call of “Cut!” everyone exchanged greetings, thanking each other for the hard work, and that moment of stillness, standing together with the director and the cast and crew looking at the sunset while reminiscing about the past days, will remain in my memory for a lifetime.
Q. 'Buried Hearts' seems to be the most challenging work in Park Hyung-sik's filmography and an important turning point. As it shows a different aspect from his existing image, praise for the 'rediscovery of Park Hyung-sik' has poured in. Have you discovered anything new about yourself through this work?
= I realized for the first time that I am someone with strong physical and mental resilience. Even now, it’s hard to believe how I managed to do it. However, it would have been impossible without the energy of the 'Buried Hearts' team. The performance I showcased in this project was ultimately a part of me that I was able to bring out and show, and I am truly glad about that.
Q. Please give a final greeting to the viewers who loved 'Buried Hearts.'
= I hope all viewers find their own 'buried hearts.' More than anything, I wish that precious family, friends, and colleagues come before that 'buried hearts.' I sincerely thank everyone who loved 'Buried Hearts' and supported Seo Dong-joo. I look forward to showcasing good performances in the future. I wish you all happiness!
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